Train-order-holding device.



. `Nofala'oo.-l PATENTBD MAR. 2o, 1906.

A. B. WILLIAMS.

TRAIN ORDBRHOLDING DEVICE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED MARAZ, 1905.

a vv LIV Sv w www5.

ALvA E. WILLIAMS, oF AURORA, NEBRASKA.

TRAIN-ORDER-HOLDING. DEVICE ivo. 815,500.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2o, 1906.

Application hai March 2, 1905. serial No. 248,185.

T all Milton/1,` it misty-concern: n

Be it known that I, ALvA E. WILLIAMS, a

\ citizen o f the United States, residing at Aurora,in the county ofHamilton and State of` Devices; and Ido hereby declare the follow-lNebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Order Holding ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in holdingdevices, and

more particularly to a train-order-hollding device.

One of the numerous objects in view is the v f provision of resilientlmeans for clamping a v after fully described, il

removable sheet against the back of a rame.

Another object of the invention is theprovision of means for tiallysolid back an a transparent front, constituting one of the .framesstructing the device.

' A further 'obj ect of the invention is the improvement of thestructure of a reversible train-order-holding frame, which is employedin the structure of a device in accordance with the resent invention, lA still further obj ect of the invention is the provision of means forclamping a removable sheet between a substantially solid back and atrans arent front of a reversible frame.

Whi e I have mentioned some of the objects in view, the inventionconsists of c'ertain other novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of arts, as will be hereinemployed in` conpanyingdrawings,` and more particularly pointed out in the claims heretoappended.

In the drawings,'Figure 1 is a front view of a device constructed inaccordance with the moved to a vertical device. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the' yss present invention, which empl stituting a cover, saiddevice an opened position with one oys a flapconbeing shown in of theframes position for placing said frame behind the other holder-frame ofthe device'illustrated in Fig. 1 shown in a folded position. Fig. 3 is aview in front elevation of another embodiment of the present invention,showing the same in an opened position. Fig. 4 isa the holderframes ofthe present invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5,Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective removably securing a sheet,which is inteposed between a substan-l ustrated in the accom-v means'2a,which are Each of the holder-frames 1 perspective view of one ofv l viewof one of the holder-frames, shown partly in section. l

It is desirable to provide a train'- order holder which will retain thetrain-order sheets in a fixed position, s'aid holder capable of beingattached to the cab of a locomotive or caboose of a freight-train, sothat theengineer or reman can readily read the order contained in theouter or upper frame, as the case may be. Several train-orders may beheld in position for inspection and can'be r'emoved or replacedwheneverit is desirable or necessary when employing a holder constructedin accordance with the present invention.

In the art to which my invention relates it is well known that usuallyva train-order is delivered to the conductor of a train, while a copy ofthe same may be given to the engineer. vThese original and duplicatecopies are often placed by the conductor and engineer in their pocketsor carelessly deposited upon any support, .so that while they areimportant documents theyare often mislaid or sessing some simple holderor depository. Many advantagesare obtained by employing a deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention-as, forinstance, aholder which will at all times permit the train-orders to be easilyread, aswell as being posi- V.tively retained in an assembled osition,so as to be easily accessible, for it willpbe obvious be easily reversedwhen it is found necessary. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shownv a holderespecially adapted for conductors use, .said

' removably secured together by suitable loop preferably, in thisinstance, rings. y comprises in its construction a comparatively rigidor stiff back 2, which maybe construct- 2 is provided with a transversereinforcingrib 3 at each of its ends. inforcing-rib materially increasesthe rigidi ty ofthe substantiallysolid back 2.l .The back 2 ofthe frame1 is provided with apertures near its up er edge, vsaid aperturesmetallic eyelets 4 positioned therein. In my preferred lconstructionsthe apertured portions of the back, in which the'eyelets 4 arepositioned, are preferably formed near the ends and contiguous totheupper edge of the that the adjustable frames of the device can,

ed of leather or stiff cardboard. The back 4 lost by the conductor orengineer not posholder,- comprising holder-frames 1, which are Ioo Thetransverse'rev l having IIC back. v The clamping means employed in theconstruction of each'ef the frames comprises a substantially-rectangularframe, which is rovided with parallel metallic strips 6 6, formed ofreshent material. The metallic strips 6 have a springaction for pressingor holding the transparent sheet 7 and the upper longitudinal strip 8normally against the back 2. The resilient strips 6 are incased within acovering 9. A longitudinally-extending strip 8 is secured to the back 2near its lower edge, said strip 8 extending parallel to the strip 8. Itwill be seen that the holderframes are substantially rectangular inshape, it necessarily following that the back 2,' as well as the movableclamping-frame secured to the front of the back, is also rectangular inshape. The edges of the transparent sheet 7 are incased within theparallel strips 8a, constituting the longitudinal strip or member 8, andthe lower strip 8 and the back 2, and the covering 9 inclosing theresilient strips 6.

It may be desirable to reinforce the sheet constituting the back 2, andfor this reason I have shown in Fig. 5a metallic strip l0, which issecured transversely of the back. It is preferable to secure two of thestrips to the back, one near each end. The looped means 2a arepositioned within the eyelets of the holder-frames- The holder-framesmay bereversed upon the looped means 2'nl when it is desired to exposethe train-order sheet positioned within a frame covered by anotherframe. v

In Figsf 1 and 2 a flap 11 of the same dimension as the back 2 of theframe l is movably secured by means of a flexible strip l2 to one of theholder-frames. The flap l1 may be folded into parallel position with theholder-frames of the device, as is shown in Fig. 2. The structure of thedevice depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 is especially adapted for a conductorsuse, as it is generally desirable to deposit the holder in a pocket of agarment worn by the user of the holder. In Fig. 3 the flap 11 isdispensed with, as a device constructed in accordance with theembodiment depicted therein is more especially adapted for the engineersuse, and as it is desirable to suspend the device in the cab of thelocomotive the employment of the flap 1l is not necessary. As each order is executed or canceled the holder-frame containing said order can bequickly and easily positioned to the rear of the remaining frames byswinging the vsame vertically to the rear of the frames.

Additional holder-frames may be positioned upon or detached from thelooped means 2a,

as said means are preferably of the ordinary i split-ring type.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I haveconstructed a holderframe which comprises a comparatively stiff back anda transparent resilient front. The front of the frame is preferablyprovided with parallel springs secured at the lowerl edge of the back,while the upper ends are left free. The longitudinal strips or members 8and 8 may be made of the same metallic material as the springs or strips6, obviating the necessity of employing the parallel strips 8 or thestrip constituting the lower longitudinal strip or member S. Asillustrated in the 'figures of the drawings, the vertically-extendingflexible parallel members Sb are inset from the ends of the back and thelongitudinal parallel strips 8 and S extend beyond the outer edges ofsaid members S1.

The transparent sheet 7 is retained in its normal position upon theholderfra1ne by stitching through the covering 9 for the springs 6,through the strips 8 of the longitudinal member 8, and throughlongitudinal member S and the portion of the back engaged by saidmember.

Having thus fully described my invention, i what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a device of the character described, the combination of reversibleholder-frames, each of said frames comprising an apertured l sheetconstituting a back, and a springpressed sheet, constituting a front,secured to the lower portion of said back, and means positioned withinthe apertured portions of l said sheets for securing the holder-framestoi gether. 2. In a device of the character described, l

the combination of reversible, connected holder-frames, one of saidholder-frames provided with a movable flap, and each of said framescomprising aback, a transparent sheet secured to said back, andresilient means for normally holding said sheet in' substantially aparallel position with said back.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of aplurality of reversible holder-frames, a fiap constituting a coversecured to one of said frames, each of said frames comprising a back,metallic eyelets secured to said back, a transparent sheet secured tosaid back near its lowest end, reillforcing means secured to the edgesof said sheet, parallel springs secured to said sheet and back, andmeans engaginor the eyelets of i said backs for securing saidholder-frames to- F gether.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of aplurality of detachable and reversible holder-frames, a iiapconstituting a cover secured to one of said holderframes, each of saidholder-frames comprisl` ing an apertured back, a front secured to saidback comprising a transparent sheet, said sheet secured to the backthroughout one of its longitudinal edges, reinforcing means sei cured tothe edges of said transparent sheet,

parallel springs secured to said back and inclosed by said reinforcingmeans, and looped i means engaging the aperture(J portion of TOO IOS

each of said holder-rames for securing the same in a folded position.

l ent means positioned between 5. In a device of the'characterdescribed, the combination of reversible holders, means connectingsaidholders, each of said holders comprising a back, separate springs Xedlysecured at one end tosaid back, and transparsaid sprin s.

6. .In a device of the characterdescri ed, the combination of movableconnecting said holders, each of said holders comprising a backandclamping means iX- edly secured at one end to said back, and a i'lapsecured to one of said holders adapted to be folded in a substantiallyparallel'position to said holder. s

7. In a device of the character described,

the combination of reversible holders, means connecting said holders,each holder comprising a back and a flexible front, and a Hap secured toone of said holders.

holders, means A- 8. In a device of the character described,`

the combination with reversible holders,-

the combination of reversible holders, means for connecting saidholders, each of said holders comprising a back and a flexible front,

saidbac vand front iiXedly secured together throughout one of theiredges, and a ilap constitutmg a cover secured-to one of said hold. ersand, adapted to overlap a portion of said holders. I n

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

ALVA E. wiLLrlnis. Witnesses: l

` M. A. HARTIGAN, R. R. MORLEDGE

